As the winter season approaches, it’s time to protect your home from the harsh, cold elements. Insulating the home is something many homeowners struggle with, but it doesn’t need to be difficult. Follow these simple DIY ideas to keep your home insulated during the winter season.

1. Inspect the Home

Many homes (especially older ones) have spots where air leaks. Open spaces are prone to allow unwanted air to enter the home. Find some time to walk throughout the home and look for drafty areas. Common drafty areas can include the attic, basement, and crawlspace.

2. Maintain Your HVAC System

The health of your HVAC system is essential for keeping warm air from escaping the home. Check your air filters and clean them regularly. This will help to control the air flow in the home, and it will improve the air quality.

3. Seal Drafty Doorways

Place foam weather-stripping on the bottom and sides of your doors. If the gap underneath the door is especially large, put a double draft stopper to close the gap. You can buy these double draft stoppers from a hardware store near you, or you can create a homemade stopper using fabric, kitty litter, or even a pair of old jeans that you no longer wear.

4. Seal Drafty Windows

Add an extra layer of insulation to your windows with the help of plastic sheeting. This is a cheap DIY option that can stop outside air in its tracks. You only need plastic sheeting, double-sided tape, and a hairdryer. Apply the sheeting to the window sill with the tape, and apply hot air using the hairdryer. This is an easy way to ensure that your windows are insulated.

5. Seal Vents and Ducts

A great deal of air is lost through the vent and duct system due to poorly sealed openings and connections. Your duct system is often overlooked, and it can be hard to spot the leaks. To seal your ductwork, purchase some HVAC tape from a hardware store. HVAC tape is strong and doesn’t dry out (unlike duct tape). Apply the tape to any leaky opening on your ductwork.

6. Install Thick Curtains

If you have drafty windows, a set of thick curtains can really help to keep warm air in and cold air out. While they don’t serve a purpose in the summer months, thick curtains can make a difference in the winter seasons.

7. Swap Out the Screen Door

In the winter, we tend to forget about the screen door, as we have the main door to shield the home from the outside air. But even with the main door, outside air can still sneak inside the home. To stop this from happening, swap out that screen door for a solid pane of glass. This is an incredibly simple way to keep your home insulated during the winter months.

For more helpful tips on home insulation or to order your propane delivery, contact Keystone Propane today!

For many people, there’s nothing spookier than receiving a steep energy bill. To help keep your energy bill in-check this Halloween season, we have compiled a series of useful, actionable energy efficiency tricks you can easily implement.

Energy Efficiency Tricks and Treats

Protect Your Airflow

Those air leaks in your windows and doors allow unwanted, cold air to creep into the home. This air disrupts the internal temperature of the home, causing your energy system to work harder, and for your energy bill to skyrocket. By plugging these air leaks with caulk, you won’t have cold air sneaking into your home. Bonus: you also keep scary, ghostly spirits at bay.

Turn the Lights Off

It’s difficult to keep a spooky vibe if all your indoor lights are on. Save energy by turning off the lights. If there are areas of the home that need to be illuminated, use candles. Candles also vibe perfectly with the Halloween season by creating a spooky atmosphere.

Use LED Lights

If you’re adorning your home with spooky decorations this Halloween, use LED lights. These conserve far less energy than normal lightbulbs. Regular lighting can be like an energy vampire—slowly sucking away your energy, causing your electric bill to rise.

Unplug Unused Electronics

Those electronics and appliances can be another energy vampire. Even if they aren’t being used, they still consume energy. This is called “phantom energy loads,” and it can be stopped by simply unplugging those unused devices and appliances.

Maintain the Chimney

The warmth and comfort of a fireplace can be so welcoming in the fall season, but a chimney that’s always opened will cause warm air to escape during the winter and fall seasons. When it’s not in use, close your chimney flue. Doing so will keep warm air inside, while keeping scary witches out.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are extremely useful for energy conservation. You can program it to raise or lower the temperature when you aren’t home, and you can also program it to adjust during set times.

Protect Your Home with Insulation

Your crawlspace and attic areas are practically outside your house, and they have a high amount of penetrations for water pipes, sewer lines, vent stacks, etc. These are often small penetrations, but they can make a huge difference in how you consume energy. Properly insulating these areas will help to keep warm air where it’s supposed to be—inside the home.

Seeing an expensive energy bill can be a scary sight. Instead, follow the tips in this blog post or contact Keystone Propane today to find out how to keep your energy bill manageable. Happy Halloween!

If you’re calling in every time you need a propane delivery, you’re missing out on the convenience and ease of Keystone Propane’s automatic delivery program! Here are a few reasons to consider signing up for automatic propane delivery today.

Automatic Propane Delivery Benefits

Confidence

Once you’re signed up for automatic delivery, your days of waiting are over. Although we always offer exceptionally prompt service, automatic delivery allows you to trust our professional staff to ensure you always have gas when you need it. No phone call needed.

No Gauge Checking

Keystone Propane monitors your tank gauge so you don’t have to! No more trudging through the snow to check your tank, and no more wondering whether or not it’s time for a refill.

No More Scheduling

Now that you no longer need to worry about keeping track of refills, there’s no need to call for your order. Simplify your life with one less chore!

Never Run Out

Running out of gas is one of the worst things that can happen during the winter. A huge advantage of signing up for automatic delivery is that you’ll never run out of gas because you didn’t order in time.

In addition to convenient automatic delivery, Keystone Propane offers a wide variety of services that make us the leader in the propane industry, including:

24 hr emergency service

maintenance of our tanks and equipment

service to your LP gas appliances

Guaranteed personalized and professional service

With a full fleet of propane delivery and service vehicles and our dedication to customer service, it’s clear to see why you can trust Keystone Propane to handle your automatic propane delivery. And we’re not just delivering propane … we’re delivering peace of mind.

Now that it finally feels like Fall, cooler temperatures may be tempting you to turn on the heat if you haven’t done so already. Here are a few useful home heating tips for fall to help keep your energy bills reasonable by preventing waste.

Seal Up Drafts

If you walk past a window and feel a sudden burst of cold air, it’s likely a place you’re losing energy. But it’s important to recognize that this in an the perfect opportunity to conserve. Doors and windows are common culprits of energy loss, and a great place to start your conservation efforts.

Stop your heating system from working harder by purchasing some inexpensive caulking or weatherstripping. These are easy, affordable ways to help keep the cold air out and the warm air in. By properly sealing your doors and windows, you can quickly save up to 15% on your home’s energy bill!

Air Filter Clean Up

A dirty air filter can also make your heating system work double time, increasing your energy costs and putting unnecessary wear and tear on your unit. By changing your air filter on a monthly basis, you can drastically decrease the amount of wasted energy.

Another major benefit of cleaning your air filter is improving the air quality in your home, especially if you have family members with asthma or allergies. Removing pollen, dust, and other contaminants efficiently is key to helping your loved ones keep their system at bay and maintaining overall health.

Thermostat Adjustments

You don’t need a programmable thermostat to take advantage of this method, although it does help to have one! As long as you remember to lower the temperature at night or any other time your family is away from the house, you can enjoy savings.

Thermostat Locations

It’s also important to take your thermostat’s location into consideration. Remember to keep it away from hot or cold areas, including sunlit walls and drafty windows, as this can have a negative impact on your heating system’s performance.

Time for a Tune-Up

Having a professional give your heating unit a check-up is a great way to make sure you’re starting off the season on the right foot. It can save you money in the long run and also help keep your heating system running efficiently into the future.

If you have any questions on home heating tips for Fall or would like to talk with us about how we can help keep your heating system in good working order, contact us today!

Now that the warm weather is finally here, it’s time to start working on your spring cleaning to whip your home back into shape. Most homeowners automatically put window washing and mulching at the top of the list, but they fail to realize the benefit of concentrating their efforts in other less obvious tasks like spring cleaning for energy savings.

Because of this, a lot of homeowners miss out on the many opportunities to save energy by completing a few easy tasks that can result in some significant savings. Many families don’t realize how much energy is actually wasted in their homes every day, but by adding just a few of the following energy efficiency improvements to your spring cleaning list you can start taking advantage of these savings immediately!

Clean Sliding Door Tracks

Don’t stop at glass cleaning when it comes to your sliding doors. Over the winter a lot of dirt, pebbles, and other build up can get into the tracks, making it impossible for your glass doors to seal properly. This leaves a lot of extra gaps that allow the cool air in your home to escape and the hot air to get it.

Replace Your Air Conditioning Filters

Many people forget to clean out or replace the filters more than once or twice during a season, and they rarely remember to clean them after their final use. Don’t turn your air conditioning on for the first time this year without checking your filters and making sure they’re clean and ready to run efficiently. Doing so will ensure that your system isn’t wasting energy and your air quality is as good as possible.

Ceiling Fan Redirection

Don’t forget to switch your ceiling fans back to counterclockwise in order keep the cool air in longer to save on air conditioning.

Clean Refrigerator Coils

When was the last time you looked behind your refrigerator? If it’s been awhile, don’t just sweep up whatever muck you find on the floor. Make sure you take the time to dust your refrigerator coils so your appliance doesn’t need to work as hard to keep your food cold.

Caulk Windows

If notice any leaks while you’re cleaning your windows, take the time to caulk them as you go. With just a little effort you’ll be sealing out the heat and locking in that cool air while using less energy.

Gas grills and furnaces may be one of the most popular propane appliances, but propane has a lot more to offer when it comes to powering your home. Millions of homeowners and business owners in the U.S. currently use propane, and with so many possible applications, it’s no wonder that more and more people are switching to propane every day. Here are the five most popular propane gas appliances that are drawing attention from both residential and business customers.

Propane Fireplaces

Not only are indoor fireplaces beautiful, but they also help to efficiently warm your home on even the coldest nights. Many people often don’t realize that the ceramic logs used aren’t just for decoration, they actually radiate heat long after your propane gas is turned off.

Propane Clothes Dryers

Substituting an electric model for a clothes dryer that runs on propane has a variety of benefits, and energy efficiency is often at the top of the list. Another important advantage is that the moist heat created by propane is generally safer for most fabrics compared to heat from electric dryers.

Propane Stoves

It’s no secret that propane gives you more control over the temperature, which allows for more even cooking. And not only are propane stoves and cooktops more efficient, there’s no need to wait for them to heat up or cool down, which creates a safer cooking environment.

Propane Water Heaters

In most U.S. homes, hot water heaters consume the most energy, which is often around 30% of your total energy usage. This is why it’s so imperative that you choose an efficient hot water heating method like propane. Propane hot water heaters are known for heating water consistently and quickly.

Propane Fire Pits

Enjoy the warmth and coziness of an open fire in the privacy of your own backyard with one of many propane fire pit options available today. Not only do propane fire pits brighten up your summer nights … they let you enjoy the outdoors any time of year. For more information about the benefits of the most popular propane gas appliances, contact one of our qualified specialists today!

There are many benefits of using propane for your home heating. It’s safe, reliable, and very efficient, but the perks don’t end there. Did you know that propane is also a great alternative to relying on electricity for home heating and appliances? Not only is this energy source efficient … it’s also a stand-alone energy system you can use for a wide variety of purposes, including heat, cooking, appliances, hot water, and much more.

Many people use propane to augment their other energy sources, helping them to live even further “off the grid” than ever before. Reducing your reliance on electricity without the help of propane gas can be quite difficult, especially if you want to maintain the comfortable lifestyle you love. Choosing what fuel sources you use to power your home can have a direct effect on how you live your daily life.

Many homeowners who rely solely on electric to power their homes are now considering switching to multiple energy sources, depending on their needs. Commonly referred to as energy or power diversification, and it provides you with one of the biggest benefits of all … a backup energy source that can power your home in the event you experience an outage or failure.

Propane has been playing a part in both power diversification and “off the grid” living for several great reasons:

it’s one of the cleanest fuels available

it’s safe for the environment

it’s affordable

it’s reliable in an emergency

it’s extremely versatile

it’s readily available

Best of all, propane gas gives you the power of choice. No longer tied to electricity, you can decide to diversify your energy sources by choosing propane and enjoy all of the “off the grid” benefits it has to offer.

Looking for more information on why propane is a great choice for your home heating? Feel free to contact one of our qualified representatives today!

Most people are familiar with propane’s everyday uses like home heating and outdoor cooking, but you may be surprised to learn that there are quite a few alternative uses for propane that are quickly gaining popularity. This is all thanks to the many benefits propane gas provides as an affordable, clean energy source which is now being used for:

Hot Tub and Pool Heaters

RV & Mobile Home Appliances

Cooktops and Ranges

Patio Heaters

Water Heaters

Clothes Dryers

Fireplaces

Lawnmowers

Hot Air Balloons and More

In addition to the above uses, people across the nation are discovering the cost-cutting benefits of transitioning their fleet vehicles to propane gas, and are now running propane-powered buses, police cruisers, taxi-cabs, construction trucks, and more. For example, the schools in Pinellas County are rolling into the new year with 58 propane buses in its fleet.

The new propane buses are less noisy and more comfortable than traditional school buses. The Director of Transportation for the Pinellas County School District, Rick McBride, recently explained:

“We made a decision several years ago to look for an alternate fuel source other than a diesel type bus, so we looked at the options out there and elected to go with propane.”

Although propane has been an important part of our country’s energy mix for over one hundred years, people continue to find new uses for this low-cost, environmentally friendly fuel. The U.S. proudly produces nearly 90% of the propane being consumed worldwide, and its production has employed over 150,000 workers in trade, wholesale, and sales.

This boost for our economy is just one more reason why propane is rapidly becoming the alternative fuel of choice for Americans. At Keystone Propane, we’re proud to offer you quality, clean, and affordable propane to power your life as efficiently as possible. To find out more about alternative uses for propane or how you can utilize propane for more than home heating and outdoor cooking, contact us today.

When summer temperatures a sweltering, it’s difficult to sit back and watch as your energy bill skyrockets. Here are some helpful tips to keep your costs down and your efficiency up.

Energy Saving Tips 1 – Decrease Pool Filtration

Did you know that decreasing your pool filtration by just 30 minutes each day is a great way you can save energy? You can continue making these slow, incremental reductions as long as your pool water stays clean. Many homeowners find they only need to run their pool filters for 8 hours a day or sometimes less!

Energy Saving Tip 2 – Decrease Indoor Heat

On days that are particularly hot, avoid running the dishwasher or clothes dryer during the day. You should also avoid using the oven whenever possible, and instead cook with the microwave, outdoor grill, or toaster oven.

Energy Saving Tip 3 – Clean Your Central Air

If you have central air in your home or business, be sure to clean or replace the filters on a monthly basis in order keep it running as efficiently as possible.

Energy Saving Tip 4 – Keep an Eye on Your Thermostat

As the temperatures soar it an be tempting to crank the central air. Do your best keep the thermostat temperature around 78 while your home and turn it up to 83 while you’re at work or away.

Energy Saving Tip 5 – Watch Your Windows

Try to keep your windows open at night to let the cool air in and keep our windows and blinds closed during the day to keep the sun from heating your rooms even more. By cycling your windows correctly you can keep your home temperatures regulated without turning on your air conditioning.

Energy Saving Tip 6 – Keep Laundry Cool

Use only cold water when washing your clothes and be sure to clean the lint trap in your dryer after every use to increase efficiency.

Energy Saving Tip 7 – Be a Fan of Fans

Whenever possible, it’s best to use ceiling and windows fans instead of cranking the air conditioning. It’s a way more cost effective solution for keeping your home cool.

Do you have any other energy saving tips for summer on how to keep energy bills down when the temperatures are through the roof? If so, please leave your ideas in the comments!

President Barack Obama and Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau have released a joint statement on climate, energy, and arctic leadership according to recent information from the White House. After a tumultuous history, the two countries will finally share a comprehensive plan for climate action.

Over the years, serious conversations regarding the climate between Canada and the U.S. have not been the norm. This new climate change agreement is a rare event indeed, considering the lack of agreement they’ve had in the past.

In what’s now being called the Paris Agreement, the U.S. and Canada have made an ambitious agreement to reduce methane emissions by 40-45 percent below 2012 levels by the year 2025. Both countries are also inviting other countries to join the initiative or develop their own methane reduction goal as they continue to explore new opportunities for additional methane reductions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working quickly to develop the new methane emission regulations as they begin a process that will require companies to provide information to assist them in their efforts.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is following suit and intends to publish an initial phase of proposed regs by early 2017.

The Paris Agreement is also focusing on other pollutants like hydrofluorocarbons (potent greenhouse gases used in refrigerators, aerosols, and air conditioners), and black carbon (a particulate component of soot).

“If we don’t agree, if we’re not aggressive … if we don’t pool our resources around the research and development and the clean energy agenda that’s required to solve this problem, then other countries won’t step up,” Obama said at the White House news conference announcing the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement is being welcomed by many environmental groups who have been encouraging the EPA to expand its methane rules. This recent development will position the U.S. and Canada as leaders among the nations of the world as we demonstrate our ability to replace dangerous pollutants with clean energy solutions.

Using propane gas is one of the safest ways to heat your home, power your vehicles, and cook your food. It is a clean burning fuel that provides many Americans with a cost-efficient source of energy that can be adapted to a wide variety of needs.

There are many ways you and your family can ensure that you’re following the best practices in regards to propane storage and usage around your home so that you can safely enjoy all of the benefits propane has to offer:

Know Your Service Lines

It is very important that you are at least somewhat familiar with the location of your home’s service lines, especially if you have plans for landscaping or renovation in the near future. Accidentally digging up a propane service line can be a costly mistake.

Furnace Service

One of the best ways to care for your home heating while promoting safe propane usage is to make sure you have your furnace serviced regularly by a qualified technician. Simply check with your propane provider and schedule a service call to ensure your unit is clean and working properly.

Address Damage Immediately

If you suspect that any of your propane appliances have been damaged by recent flooding, have them inspected immediately to avoid potential issues.

Grilling Safety

Always follow the guidelines set forth in your grill’s owner’s manual when cooking and even when your grill isn’t in use. It’s also important to make sure that you keep your grill’s surface clean and corrosion free.

Be Aware

Be alert if there is a suspicious smell of propane in the air. An unpleasant odor could be a sign of potential danger.

Proper Usage

Never use propane heating units that aren’t intended for indoor usage. This includes range burners and grills.

Following these best practices will help you and your family maintain safety standards that will allow you to enjoy all of the benefits of using propane, one of the safest choices for your home heating. If you have any questions about propane safety, feel free to reach out to our qualified experts today.

The global pursuit for a cleaner environment includes over 180 nations which have submitted proposals on how to reduce emissions according to a recent report from the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). In the U.S. we’ve been working diligently to accomplish the latest target emission rate set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the states are coming up with some very creative solutions, many of which involve the use of propane.

The NPGA states that propane gas water heaters, which are found in many U.S. homes and businesses, are one of many tools that can help the states to achieve the EPA standards. Many homeowners across the U.S. don’t realize the tremendous benefits of propane and how it can greatly contribute to reducing dangerous carbon dioxide emissions.

For example, a propane water heater will actually create 65% fewer emissions than a traditional water heater, as well as cut costs in half. Most of the energy used by an electric water heater isn’t actually used to heat the water, but instead it is simply lost due to the unit’s inefficiency. By making the switch to a propane water heater, you can help save the environment while saving money at the same time.

In addition to propane gas water heaters, propane furnaces and back up generators make a huge impact in emission reduction. There are a wide variety of propane powered appliances suitable for homes and businesses, as well as agricultural and manufacturing industries. With such a wide selection of propane based solutions, making a real impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions is easier and more affordable than ever.

Citizens and representatives are working together to for state reform and to encourage both individuals and companies to adopt the usage of propane in the home and workplace. To make this future a reality, we need to use a wide variety of approaches and technologies, while striving to incorporate reliable policies into our EPA compliance plans that focus on the benefits of propane usage.